And then there were three.
Gilberto is no longer a part of Toronto FC’s Designated Player glut. The 25-year-old Brazilian striker is going home on loan to spend a time with Vasco da Gama.
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He originally came to MLS in 2014, joining Michael Bradley and Jermain Defoe as a trio of big-name DP signings for the Reds, and picked up 7 goals and 5 assists as a bright spot. He was especially strong during a four-game goal streak in August.
But the acquisitions of Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco gave general manager Tim Bezbatchenko the need to move Gilberto in order to break the limit for Designated Players at a single club.
“We’d like to thank Gilberto for his contributions to Toronto FC and wish him well this season,” Bezbatchenko said in a statement.
There’s no doubt TFC has scored an upgrade, but Gilberto was not the problem last year.
